The photo story of the Walnut Creek Cardinals' smashing 69-53 victory over the Strasburg Tigers in the Class B Sectional Tournament at Memorial Hall last night. LEFT: Bob Troyer, the Cardinals' great guard, drives in for a lay-up shot, while Junior guard Dale Bayer (66) of the Tigers fails to halt him. CENTER: Senior Ike Hosttler, brilliant Cardinals forward, goes in for a field goal attempt with Senior forward John Zeigler (20) of Strasburg trying to block the shot. RIGHT: Senior Dale Renner (44) Tiger stickout, drives toward the basket with Jim Jaberg (6) Walnut Creek guard, in on the play.
DOVER - The Walnut Creek glittering Cardinals blasted their way into the qualifying round of the Class B Sectional Tournament at Memorial Hall Thursday night before a turn-away crowd of 1,800 fans who watched the Holmes County Champions take control in the early stages and go on to humble the Strasburg Tigers 69-53. Head Coach John Ridley's fabulous Cardinals, whose victory string has now reached 21 consecutive games, meets the winner of tonight's Millersburg Knights-Dennison St. Mary Blue Waves game in the final round Saturday night.
Before the largest crowd ever to witness a Sectional Tournament game in Memorial Hall, The Walnut Creek Cardinals (22-1), paced brilliantly by blazing guard Bob Troyer, Senior forward Ike Hostetler and Moe Hershberger, completely overwhelmed the Tuscarawas County Champion Strasburg Tigers (3-1) (17-7). The epic battle, billed as the feature of the tournament, drew a jam-packed crowd which started lining up outside the hall at 5:30PM. A total of 1,500 were turned away from the doors before the Cardinals and Tigers unleased their seige guns in what may well have been one of the decisive battles of the Eastern District.
Troyer, an All-Ohio guard last year, was never more brilliant than he was last night. The 5-9 Cardinal play-maker and "quarterback" completely riddled the Strasburg zone defense as he poured in 29 points with a deadly accurate set shot and a driving lay-up (as shown above), a combination the Bengals could not cope with at any time in the contest.
When Troyer was sent to the showers in the 4th canto with 5 personal fouls against him, he received a standing ovation from the packed house. From the outset, it was clearly visible that Head Coach Don Martin's Tigers, whose terrific effort last week wrested the County Tournament from the Midvale Blue Devils, were going to be over-shadowed by the Creekers' smooth-passing and rugged rebounding.
In addition to this offensive patter, the Walnut Creek set up a tight defense which blockcaded the Bengal aces, Senior forward John Zeigler, Senior forward Dale Renner and Junior guard Dale Bayer. The Cardinals swung into a 2-2 zone with Troyer roving out in front deployed against Strasburg set shooting tactics. Of the 3 Bengal stickouts, only Renner could achieve any success. He tallied 23 points, 8 of them in the final period with 3 Red Bird regulars, including Troyer and Hostetler, on the bench. Zeigler was held scoreless by the superlative defensive play of Troyer.
Walnut Creek grabbed a quick 4-0 lead on a free throw shot and set shot by Troyer and a charity toss by guard Jim Jaberg. From that point on, Strasburg, despite courageous attempts, could not overhaul the glistening Cardinals. Backing up Troyer's set shooting in this 1st quarter was Hershberger, a great pivot man and powerful rebounder in his own right. Troyer netted 7 points and Hershberger 7 to stake the Red Birds to a 15-8 margin.
They kept going in the 2nd frame with 5 men giving impetus to the blistering attack which saw the Tigers trailing 36-24 at intermission. Hostetler, a knifing offensive threat and another great board man, led Walnut Creek's attack in this period with 7 points, Troyer bagged 6, Jaberg 4 and forward Keith Miller and Hersberger collecting 2 each.
Junior Guard Bill Von Kaenel aided the Bengal cause with 6 more points, but it wasn't nearly enough. In the 3rd stanza, with Hershberger, Hostetler, Jaberg and Miller out-boarding Strasburg and controlling the ball at every turn, Troyer unlocked both barrels. Troyer literally slammed the door shut on the Tigers as he scorched the nets for 12 points, all from the field. That was all for the Bengals who went into the far turn trailing 55-36. From there on, the best the Tuscarawas countians could do was attempt to reduce the margin.
At one stage in the last canto, the Cardinals held a 24-point 60-36 lead. After Troyer and Hostetler left the game, Strasburg reduced the lead, but it was anti-climatical.
The fabulous Troyer led all scorers with 29 points, while Hershberger and Hostetler came through with 14 and 12 respectively for Walnut Creek. Strasburg was led by Renner with 23 points and Von Kaenel dropped in 15 markers as well in a losing cause.
WALNUT CREEK CARDINALS - 69
Ike Hostetler F 5-2-12
Machan F 0-0-0
Keith Miller F 2-1-5
Gerber F 0-0-0
Moe Hershberger C 6-2-14
Bob Troyer G 14-1 29
L. Miller G 0-0-0
Jim Jaberg G 4-1-9
STRASBURG TIGERS - 53
John Zeigler F 0-0-0
Dale Renner F 10-3-23
Jim Reiger C 3-2-8
Tom Mizer G 0-1-1
Dale Bayer G 2-0-4
Bill Von Kaenel G 7-1-15
Rich Rentsch G 1-0-2
Friday, March 2, 1951
Rex Ridenour, Sports Editor
The Daily Reporter
Dover, Ohio
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